Azalea and rhododendron

Moorlands Nature Reserve, near York

We started at Beningbrough Hall. We really liked the walled garden and the new Mediterranean garden. P was a fan of the purple alliums and we both liked the wisteria - both the purple supported vertically in a border and the white wisteria being trained to form an arched walkway above iris. We also had a wander in the hall, spotted a bee swarm and looked in at the laundry. It felt hot for May, so P & I had ice cream on a bench under apple and pear trees in the walled garden while S went for a nap.

We took a punt on Moorlands nature reserve to have another wander in the warm sunshine and were really glad we did. This photo does not do justice to the scale of the rhododendron or the variety of colours and plants. A great wee reserve with winding paths and a few small ponds. There were more woodpeckers, goldcrests, bluetits, tree creepers, thrush and warblers (many heard rather than seen).